#apa 7

[leonid-prokofiev]

“APA and I are old pals at this point” <- guy who has spent the majority of the past few days checking and re-checking formatting and citation guides

[unofficialchronicle]

Definitive Help with APA 7

APA Style is used by writers in many disciplines around the world for concise, powerful, and persuasive scholarly communication.

[ashoutinthedarkness]

Toxic Masculinity - Research Article

Toxic Masculinity

 Pixie Pheonix

Department of Home and Family, [Name of my University Here]

FAML 460: Child and Family Advocacy 

[Name of my Professor Here]

February 1, 2022

 Understanding Toxic Masculinity

Toxic Masculinity, as any weakness, is a strength that has been pushed too far. With masculinity being attributed to physical strength, ambition, and aggression, it’s easy to see how these behaviors can lead to detriment to both one’s self and those around (PragerU, 2018). Allie Stuckey, in PragerU’s video, states, “Aggression, violence, and unbridled ambition can’t be eliminated from the male psyche, they can only be harnessed. And when they are harnessed, they are tools for good, not for harm. The same masculine traits that bring destruction also defeat tyranny. The traits that foster greed also build economies. The traits that drive men to take foolish risks also drive men to take heroic risks.” (PragerU, 2018). However, when unharnessed, or harnessed incorrectly, these masculine traits can warp and become twisted. “Masculine ideals warp into a culture where mistakes are irreparable, emotional vulnerability must be avoided at all costs, and displays of strength and stamina are a requirement for success” (Berdahl, 2018).  These ideas can not only be harmful to the individual both physically and emotionally, but to those around them such as their peers, spouses, and children.

Microsystem Factors

Children are both intuitive, and easily influenced. While they may not understand all the nuances behind a particular attitude or behavior, children often mimic, or “mirror,” the behavior of those around them (Bandura, Ross, et al. 1961). These behaviors can be exacerbated through the use of video games, particularly both on and offline multiplayer video games. With technology use being the number one past time and replacing alternative means to connect with one’s peers, the likelihood of children’s poor behaviors growing due to its propensity to act as an echo chamber increases. In his book Why Gender Matters, Dr. Sax shares the connections made by Judge John Romero between various toxic behaviors in boys and their desires to be seen as heroic. Judge Romero explains how “boys want to be seen as heroes in the eyes of their peers,” and that this desire is being fulfilled in ways that leave much to be desired (2017). Both gang activity and video game addictions are fed from this base desire.

“The differences between your son in the suburbs and these boys [gang members] in the barrio are not as big as you might think. The biggest difference may be that the boy in the barrio is engaging in actual violence with a real gun. Your son, upstairs…is engaging in pretend violence with a pretend gun. But the underlying dynamic is the same…In both cases the boy is trying to prove to his friends, and to himself, that he is a real man” (Sax, p. 171, 2017).

While toxic behavior with peers can grow if left unrestrained, should an adult displaying toxic masculinity traits be a part of the child’s microsystem, as defined by Bronfenbrenner, these traits will have just as higher impact, if not higher, on the child due to proximity, amount of regular contact, and perceived authority on how one goes about becoming a man.

Exosystem Factors

Within the exosystem, portrayals of “real men” and other masculine characters can influence an individual’s perception on proper and accepted behavior. The exosystem entails mass media productions, neighbors, friends of the family, and other groups that, while exhibiting some measure of influence, are not in contact with a child as often as those within the microsystem. Characteristics, attributes, actions, and even the responses of those around characters (and actors) of the movies and shows in question are all noticed, even if subconsciously, by the viewing party. These observations can serve as a mold, or standard, to which others hold themselves to or work to act within. As the child’s peers, and adults in their lives (such as neighbors) are influenced by their media intake, these attributes can carry over toward the child in question as those ideologies influence outward and readily apparent behaviors.

Macrosystem  Factors

Covering the attitudes and ideologies of the culture most prevalent in the child’s life, the macrosystem can, at times, be difficult to contain to any one idea. As a culture works to shape the people’s views on any number of ideologies and issues, the actions and attitudes of the people work to actively shape their culture. This can lead to various types of mild circular reasoning. As discussed with the idea of social media, behaviors portrayed are not necessarily behaviors accepted by the societal culture within which one resides. However, the more culturally accepted problematic, and overall toxic, behavior the more those behaviors become reinforced and further accepted into the overarching culture. Whether the reinforcement given is positive (through praise, reward, or other acknowledgement) or negative (no rebuke or other outward acknowledgement), toxic behaviors will continue to be perpetuated until such a time as it is generally acknowledged and accepted as unacceptable. Behavioral traits tend to continue when one is either praised for it, or if none stand up to stop it.

An example of such an effect can be noted in the development of the production of pornography. Overtime, pornography has become not only more prevalent in society, but more culturally accepted. From advertisements to video games and movies, to books and comics and magazines, pornography not only has a presence in almost every type of past-time available, it’s being advocated as a tool to benefit marriages. Various websites and articles attempt to paint pornography as a way to save marriages that are struggling with the more physical aspects of intimacy. As it becomes more prevalent and available, people begin to accept it as more readily acceptable, and therefore permissible due to humanity’s susceptibility with the illusory truth effect. This effect covers the reactions of those that hear lies often enough to begin to believe them as truth. In turn, this belief changes the culture as it seeks to adapt to the changing views of those that live those ideologies.

Chronossystem Factors 

           In most patriarchal societies, cultural rules practically dictate the behaviors and attributes men are to have; the roles they are to play as designated by their gender. The stereotypical male is strong, brave, stoic, and logical with a penchant for aggression and violence that can be directed toward protectiveness or possessiveness. Over time as these traits are celebrated, and other traits (such as empathy) dissuaded, they become cemented in a culture; further reinforcing expected behavior and establishing gender norms. As those norms are established, pushback or attempted eradication of said norms can be met with not only extreme pushback, but even to the point of going in the opposite direction.

           An example of this can be found in the impact feminism [WW8] has had on views of masculinity over time. While feminism has pushed to allow men to show their emotions without being perceived as weak, radical feminists seek to emasculate the men leading to a chain reaction of increased toxic masculinity as an overreactive response. There are no vacuums in nature. In an attempt to take something away, something else will swoop in to fill the gap. As radical feminists work to stamp out various manly behaviors and responses, only the stubborn will remain, which unfortunately include those swathed in toxic masculinity. Through this, boys are deprived of figures they can look up to to learn how to be good men that will one day become good fathers. It's better to teach boys how to effectively direct the tendencies that males have toward the purpose of bettering society than to attempt to strangle or bury those natural inclinations.

Understanding the Contribution of Fatherlessness to Toxic Masculinity

When there is a lack of guidance or influence from one source, another will always take its place. With a lack of prominent and involved good father figures in the live of many children around the world, other sources have risen to take their place. However, this trade is not for the better. With both the increase of time children spend in front of a screen and the shift in the entertainment industry leading toward more graphic and violent content, children lacking in a figure to model good behavior from will model the behavior they witness occurring in front of them (Bandura, Ross, et al. 1961).  So long as the media continues to portray men as rude, slow-witted, irresponsible, stumbling, bumbling idiots only capable of thinking with their hormones rather than their brains, children will continue to mirror this behavior as they grow up, further engraining those stereotypes and perpetuating the cycle.

Improving Fatherhood

           Just as fatherlessness feeds and increases toxic masculinity, toxic masculinity leads to increased cases of fatherlessness. By improving fathers, and thereby the role models children have to look up to, such behaviors will be modeled and mirrored leading to a natural decrease in toxic masculinity. The absence of fathers is an expensive deficit. The various programs, institutions, and laws that have been required to take up the slack presents the nation with a receipt of the importance of good men, and good fathers. Rather than requiring more outside support, which act more as a patch than a true mending of the issue, teaching boys to become good men, who can then learn how to be good fathers and continue to pass on the knowledge to their children, will surely be a more effective, if slower, method for positive change.

Reducing Fatherlessness

           There are many good men out there who are denied the opportunity to be good fathers, or father-figure role models, due to the current organization of various institutions and laws. Courts are more inclined to give the mothers sole custody of their children denying them the opportunity of having an active father-figure in their lives. Were the courts to understand the importance of fathers on children’s development and work out methods to allow their continued influence on their children, the impact of being without a father in the home could be reduced. Attempts to bridge this lack of understanding could include the mandatory involvement of familial expert key witnesses in any court case involving children and a couple attempting to divorce and determine custody. Judges could also be required to fulfill a predetermined minimal number of hours undergoing training in family sciences. This training could include attending classes, a conference, or even a modified interview/lecture with a family science expert.

           Additionally, were the entertainment industry to include more positive father figures children would have someone to attempt to emulate, as well as an example of good behavior that illustrates how fathers should treat their children and their wives. Examples of such father figures include the dads in Kim Possible (Kim and Ron’s fathers respectively), Avatar: The Last Airbender (Sokka and Katara’s father, and Zuko’s uncle), and from The Lion King (Simba’s dad). Each of these father figures treat their wives and children with love and respect. They take the time to listen to their children and teach them important lessons. They are portrayed with a variety of strengths that show there’s no one “right way” to be a good father. Just as children will model poor behavior, they will also model good behavior. They just need to know where to turn to find such examples.

 References

Bandura, A., Ross, D., & Ross, S. A. (1961). Transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive models. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 63(3), 575–582. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0045925

Berdahl, J. L., Cooper, M., Glick, P., Matos, K., O’Neill, O., & Lei, X. (2018). Toxic Leadership and the Masculinity Contest Culture: How “Win or Die” Cultures Breed Abusive Leadership. Journal of Social Issues, 74(3), 500. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12284

PragerU. (2018, August 6). Make Men Masculine Again [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-kxdyJs6y8

Sax, L. (2017). Why Gender Matters: What parents and teachers need to know about the emerging science of sex differences. Harmony Books.

[cheeseplatypusandiceskates]

Today's Big Brain Text Meme I thought of:

Be like APA 7 (complimentary), not APA 6 (derogatory)

[sweet61]

APA 7: Changes rules for et al

Me:

[jocolatemousse]

Huuuy wooow pwede na raw gumamit ng Arial (and a few others) sa APA 7th ed. 😭❤

[akademikredaksiyon]

APA 7 ile Gelen Dikkat Çekici Değişiklikler

APA 7 ile Gelen Dikkat Çekici Değişiklikler

APA, American Psikoloji Derneği’nin ingilizcesi olan American Psychological Association kısaltmasıdır. Apa formatı, Amerikan Psikoloji Derneği’nin akademik yayınlarda kullanılmasını önerdiği yazım stilidir. Amerikan Psikoloji Derneği zaman zaman akademik yayınlarda kullanılmasını önerdiği kurallara ilişkin bir rehber yayımlamaktadır. Apa 6 olarak adlandırılan yazım stili, Amerikan Psikoloji…

View On WordPress